PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

RedHawks Game Notes: April 26, 2013

Published on April 26, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Oklahoma City RedHawks (10-10) vs. New Orleans Zephyrs (10-9)

Houston Astros vs. Miami Marlins

Game #21 of 144/Home #10 of 72 (3-6)

Pitching Probables: OKC-LHP Dallas Keuchel vs. NEW-RHP Doug Mathis (1-1, 2.25)

Friday, April 26, 2013 | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark | Oklahoma City, Okla. | 7:05 p.m. CT

Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, IHeartRadio - Alex Freedman

Today's Game: The RedHawks will try and snap a three-game skid when they face the New Orleans Zephyrs at 7:05 p.m. Tonight is another Fireworks Friday, with post-game fireworks presented by Verizon.

Last Game: The RedHawks erased two late deficits, but eventually fell 10-8 in 15 innings against the Zephyrs. New Orleans shot out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and extended the advantage to 6-0. Trailing 6-1 in the bottom of the ninth, the RedHawks rallied to tie the game. Jonathan Villar evened things up with a two-out, two-strike RBI single. The game stayed 6-6 until the 13th inning, when former RedHawk Matt Downs hit a go-ahead, two-run homer. In the bottom of the inning, the RedHawks answered as Villar provided a two-run single to keep the game alive. The RedHawks then had a chance to win after loading the bases with one out, but they could not push another run across. Kevin Mattison ended up with the game-winning hit, after collecting a two-run, two-out triple in the 15th.

Today's Probable Pitcher: Dallas Keuchel is set to make his first appearance of the season for the RedHawks...Keuchel was on the RedHawks Opening Day roster, but he was recalled to Houston on April 6 before making an appearance...With the Astros he made four relief appearances, compiling a 3.38 ERA over 10.2 innings...Keuchel allowed just one run and six hits over his first six innings, but on Saturday against Cleveland, the Indians got to him for seven runs (three earned) and seven hits over 2.2 innings...Last season Keuchel went 3.90 ERA in 16 starts with the RedHawks and is 7-5 with a 4.91 ERA over 23 career starts with OKC...The Tulsa native has been outstanding in his home state, posting a 1.79 ERA in 13 career starts at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark...Keuchel has made four career starts against the Zephyrs, going 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA

Against the Zephyrs: 2013: 0-1 2012: 8-8 All-time: 124-114 In OKC: 69-51

Last season's series was about extremely even...Each team won consecutive games against the other just once, and neither won three straight...There was one 10-game stretch where the squads alternated wins and losses...The RedHawks hit an impressive .308 against the Zephyrs, but New Orleans outscored OKC 105-90...The Zephyrs bashed 27 homers over the 16 games, representing 18 percent of their season total...Jimmy Paredes hit .389 against New Orleans pitching...Neither team has won 10 or more games against the other in a season since 2006.

Working Overtime: Yesterday's 15-inning contest was the longest for the RedHawks since a 3-2 loss in 16 innings in Sacramento on May 21, 2011. It also marked the ninth game in team history to last at least 15 innings, but just the second since 2002. (OKC is now 4-5 in those games.) It was the third time the RedHawks and Zephyrs have played at least 15 innings. The RedHawks won 5-4 over New Orleans in 17 innings on September 2, 1999 and scored a 3-1 victory in 15 innings on August 13, 2002 in New Orleans.

Man Down: Earlier today the Houston Astros announced RedHawks pitcher Rudy Owens suffered a stress fracture in his left foot and will likely be out for the rest of the season. Owens is slated to have surgery in Houston on Monday and will not be able to return to game action for 4-5 months. It's the second significant injury for a RedHawks pitcher, joining John Ely who had to undergo Tommy John surgery after just one appearance.

Home on the Range: The RedHawks are off to a surprising 3-6 start at home this season. They have gone 4-6 through their first 10 home games twice (2002, 2011) but have never started 3-7 in Bricktown.

On the Marc: After going 2-for-6 yesterday, Marc Krauss has hit safely in all nine home games, batting at a .406 clip with 14 RBI. On Monday he was named PCL Player of the Week, after hitting .455 with six extra-base hits and 10 RBI. His 19 RBI for the season is tied for eighth in the PCL and ranks second among Astros farmhands.

Valiant Villar: After getting off to a 2-for-34 start, Jonathan Villar is 16-for-44 (.364) over his last nine games, with seven multi-hit efforts. During this stretch he has collected all seven of his RBI and all six of his extra-base hits for the season. His season-high three RBI last night were the most he's had in a game since July 5, 2012.

Elmore, More, More: Following a 1-for-13 funk, Jake Elmore snapped 4-for-7 the last two games, reaching base five times. The second baseman has reached base safely in each of his 19 games and is just one of three players in the PCL with a consecutive on-base streak of at least 19 games this season.

Perfect Ten: The RedHawks already have had three players with hitting streaks of 10 games of longer (Crowe, Elmore, Krauss). Only Colorado Springs and Iowa have even had two players with a hitting streak of at least 10 games.

Yard Work: The RedHawks have not homered in seven consecutive home games. Their three dingers in OKC are the least home runs hit by a PCL team at its home park this season.

The Big One: In each of the past three games, the RedHawks have allowed five runs in one inning, including five-run frames in the first inning each of their last two games. For the season the RedHawks have allowed at least five runs in an inning six times.

All or Nothing: Through the first 20 games of the season, the RedHawks pitching staff has allowed seven or more runs 12 times, but has limited the opposition to three or less runs in the other eight games.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER(S) OPP. PITCHER

Saturday, April 27 7:05 p.m. New Orleans RHP Jordan Lyles (1-2, 6.27) LHP Brian Flynn (Team debut)

Sunday, April 28 2:05 p.m. New Orleans LHP Brett Oberholtzer (0-2, 9.49) RHP Jacob Turner (1-2, 7.27)

Monday, April 29 7:05 p.m. Nashville RHP Ross Seaton (0-1, 8.03) RHP Frankie De La Cruz (1-2, 4.20)

Tuesday, April 30 7:05 p.m. Nashville RHP Jarred Cosart (2-0, 2.86) RHP Johnny Hellweg (1-2, 4.00)

Check out the Oklahoma City Comets Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 26, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central